goals against Plymouth Argyle and West Bromwich Albion and Preston hung on to Championship status under Irvine's replacement, Darren Ferguson. St Ledger's final season at Deepdale came in 2010–11 when he switched shirt from number twelve to four. However, his season was blighted by injury and loss of form as Preston struggled under Ferguson. Despite Ferguson's dismissal in December 2010 and an eventual improvement in results under successor Phil Brown, St Ledger could not help Preston being relegated to League One. St Ledger played his final game for Preston on 19 March 2011 at home to Coventry before injury finished his season early. In his fifth and final season, St Ledger played 32 times from Preston, scoring his final goal for the club during the campaign at Watford in a 2–2 draw. Considered too good for League One football and with Preston desperate for both money from transfers and from a drop in the wage bill St Ledger left Deepdale in the summer of 2011 to join Leicester City. Middlesbrough (loan) In September 2009, St Ledger joined Middlesbrough on an initial three-month loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer in the January transfer window, however after failing to settle in the north east, the move was not made permanent and St Ledger returned to Preston. He made his full debut for Boro on 19 September 2009 against West Bromwich Albion, which Middlesbrough lost 5–0. The next game after making his debut, St Ledger scored his first goal for Middlesbrough against Coventry City in late September. A week later, on 3 October 2009, St Ledger scored his second goal of the season, in a 2–0 win over Reading. He then played against parent club, Preston North End, which described his return as "bittersweet" and was applauded by both set of supporters during the match. The loan spell proved to be an unhappy move for St Ledger who saw manager Gareth Southgate sacked shortly after signing the defender. St Ledger quickly fell out with new manager Gordon Strachan and was told he was no longer part of the Scotsman's plans. St Ledger returned to Preston after his loan deal at Middlesbrough expired, failing to sign the permanent deal originally agreed by the two clubs earlier in the season. Manager Strachan revealed he could have persuaded him to stay at the club. Leicester City On 4 July 2011, St Ledger joined